Housekeeping: Effective Cleaning Solutions for House Siding

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Are you cleaning the exterior of your home and in need of a good cleaning solution for siding? An effective house siding cleaning solution, either store-bought or homemade, makes cleaning the siding on your home quick and easy. Learn about the options for siding cleaning solutions.

Flippin House siding detail - Clatskanie Oregon

Wood Siding

Clean The House Siding – Cleaning Your Home

Washing the siding on your house is the best step to cleaning the exterior of your home. Cleaning your house siding not only improves and maintains the attractive appearance of your home but can also extend the life of the siding. Dirt, mold, and mildew can all harm surfaces including siding. Washing this gunk off is important for maintaining the well-being of your home. But, what cleaning mixtures are available for siding?

Siding

Learn about a commercial cleaning solution as well as a homemade effective house siding cleaning solution that you can use to wash the outside of your home.

Commercial Cleaning Solutions

Your first option for an effective house siding cleaning solution is to buy a commercially available product. Two such products that are recommended by customers are Krud Kutter Exterior Siding Cleaning and Spray & Forget.

Metal Siding

The Krud Kutter brand is safe for wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding as well as other exterior features such as gutters, roofs, fencing, brick and cement, and concrete. Krud Kutter contains biodegradable cleaners in a water-based solution and does not contain bleach, ammonia, or petroleum solvents. Spray & Forget is a similar bleach – and lye-free product that removes biological scum from many exterior surfaces including siding.

Unlike Krud Kutter, however, Spray & Forget does not require rinsing. Both products are safe to use around landscaping when used properly. In addition to these two products, other similar cleaning solutions for siding are also available on the market. To find the best commercial cleaning solution for your needs, seek the advice of a professional at a home improvement store.

Homemade Cleaning Solutions – Homemade Cleaning Products

If you do not wish to buy a cleaning product, your second option for an effective house siding cleaning solution is to make your own from other household products. Some simple but efficient cleaning solutions include the following:

1 part dish soap or laundry detergent and 10 parts water
1 part Oxiclean and 4 parts water
1 part white vinegar and two parts water
1/3 cup laundry detergent, 1 quart bleach, and 1 gallon water

Soap and water is generally safe for most types of siding including wood, vinyl, and aluminum. If you are trying to remove mold or mildew from your siding, mixtures that contain bleach or vinegar work best. Avoid using bleach on wood siding as bleach can stain or lighten the color of the wood.

Also be careful when using soap or bleach around landscaping as these chemicals may be toxic to plants. You may also want to use multiple solutions to fully clean your siding; for example, a soap solution to remove dirt and a bleach solution to remove mold.

Using Cleaning Solutions

To use any siding cleaning solution, begin by rinsing your siding with regular water using your gardening hose. If your siding is especially grimy, you may want to consider renting a pressure washer to blast the worst of the dirt and gunk off first. After rinsing, apply a cleaning solution to the siding.

Garden Hose

The easiest way to do so is to buy a garden hose attachment that allows you to add your solution to the stream of water. You can also use a ladder and a bucket and apply the cleaning solution by hand. Allow the solution to sit on your siding for up to fifteen minutes to loosen dirt and kill mold. Do not allow the solution to dry. Then, use a moistened long-handled brush to gently scrub the siding.

Finally, thoroughly rinse the cleaning solution off the outside of your home. Depending on how dirty your siding is, you may need to rinse and repeat with the same or a different cleaning solution. Always work from the top down to prevent freshly cleaned areas from becoming soiled again.

Cleaning the outside of your home is just as important as cleaning the interior. Washing siding is just one part of exterior home cleaning. Using an effective house siding cleaning solution is essential for properly and thoroughly cleaning the exterior of your home.

Exterior House Cleaning
Cleaning
the exterior of your home is important for maintaining the appearance
and quality of your home. Learn tips and instructions for cleaning the
outside of your house such as how to wash windows and sidings, when to
check for maintenance problems, and why to clean up landscaping.
Cleaning Solutions for the Exterior of the House
Effective Cleaning Solutions for House Siding

Sources

Best Vinyl Siding Cleaner: Vinyl Siding Cleaning Solution: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/best-vinyl-siding-cleaner-vinyl-siding-cleaning-solution.html
Cleaning Vinyl Siding: How to Clean Vinyl Siding: http://www.siding4u.com/cleaning-vinyl-siding.php
Natural Wood Siding Needs TLC: http://www.askthebuilder.com/natural-wood-siding-needs-tlc/
Spray & Forget; Decks, Siding & More…; https://www.sprayandforget.com/housewash/

Image Credits

Garden Hose – Nandhp: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garden_hose.jpg
Metal Siding – Larz Lentz: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LightningVolt_Corrugated_Steel_Siding.jpg
Siding – Michael Lee: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Painted_siding.jpg
Wood Siding – Werewombat: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flippin_House_siding_detail_-_Clatskanie_Oregon.jpg